Leigh Smith

Leigh Smith is a Full Professor and Department Head in the Department of Physics at the University of Cincinnati. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1988) and a B.A. in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Virginia (1982). His research focuses on condensed matter physics, particularly semiconductor nanostructures such as nanowires and quantum dots, emphasizing electronic, phononic, and spin properties. He has led groundbreaking work on topological insulators and Weyl semimetals.

Smith's research combines ultrahigh spectral resolution, sub-micron spatial resolution, and picosecond temporal resolution to study electronic states in semiconductors. Key areas include semiconductor nanowire heterostructures, exciton dynamics, and optical spectroscopy. His grants include NSF funding for nanowire-based detector technologies and mid-infrared microscopy development.

Scientific contributions include over 150 peer-reviewed articles, including work on carrier dynamics in InP nanowires and lasing in GaAs nanowires. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society (2001). The Nano Materials Physics Group, which he co-leads, collaborates internationally and has secured millions in federal and state grants.

• Grants: Over $5 million in NSF and federal funding for nanowire research, including MRI instrumentation grants.
• Awards: Recognized for contributions to semiconductor nanowire physics.
• Labs: Active in the Materials World Network, focusing on nanowire heterostructures and advanced microscopy techniques.